(above) Joe Colborne will suit up for the Pioneers next seasonby Farhan Devji
He may not have the celebrity status of Jason Bourne just yet, but he unquestionably has the ability to electrify his audience in more ways than one, and Joe Colborne is well on his way to establishing his own reputed identity. Colborne, the native of Calgary, Alberta, currently plays for the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Ranked 29th overall in December's ISS 2008 rankings, Colborne headlines a small group of exciting 2008 draft eligible prospects playing Tier II hockey in Canada this season. But as Colborne explains, he isn’t the least bit worried about the pressure of being the top ranked Junior A player.
“Personally, I don’t really feel much pressure because I am trying to focus on each game as it comes and hopefully the draft will take care of itself,” said Colborne.
The scouts have been raving about Colborne’s explosive speed coupled with his towering 6’5” frame, which in all likelihood has yet to be filled out. Colborne plays the center position with notoriously soft hands and natural offensive instincts, thus the 52 points in 29 games played this season with Camrose. When asked about which current NHL players he would compare his style of play to, Colborne chose three who any General Manager in the right mind would undoubtedly love to have on their team.
“I feel like I am a skilled forward, and I try to model my game after players like Lecavalier, Thornton and Spezza,” he said.
Colborne played his minor hockey in Springbank, Alberta, a community just outside of Calgary. He began playing organized hockey at the age of five, but Colborne says he can’t remember a day when he didn’t dream about playing in the National Hockey League. On top of his time with Camrose, Colborne has also had the privilege to represent Canada internationally, which he singles out as one of his top hockey memories.
“My fondest memory in hockey would either be the playoff run my team went on last year when we reached the Royal Bank Cup semifinal game and lost in the fifth overtime period, or winning the World Junior A Challenge in Trail BC earlier this year,” said Colborne, who had seven points in four games with Canada West in the tournament.
Colborne has been compared by many to Kyle Turris, who is currently representing Team Canada at the World Junior Championships overseas, because of their similar decisions to play in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League rather than the Tier I Canadian Hockey League. While the comparison is somewhat appropriate, a more suitable comparison might be to Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond, who also played for the Camrose Kodiaks.
“Mason has been a huge role model for me as I have been able to workout with him in Calgary over the past few summers and it has been great to watch someone who is doing exactly what I hope to do in my career,” explained Colborne.
Just as Turris, who currently plays for the Wisconsin Badgers, and Raymond, who is a Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs alumnus, both did after their respective stints in the CJAHL, Colborne is committed to play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association commencing in the 2008-09 season. However, Colborne is slated to don the crimson and gold of the University of Denver Pioneers. As he explains, Colborne chose Denver for a combination of reasons.
“Denver really stood out from the rest of the schools because of firstly its coaching, which is some of the best in the nation, second, the tradition of having a perennial chance at winning a national championship, as well as the top level of education that it offers,” he said.
The University of Denver Pioneers are currently tied with Colorado College for first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 22 points apiece.
It’s possible that Ebert and Roeper will never give Joe Colborne “two thumbs up” for his performance on the ice, however; I think he would settle for his name being called by any General Manager at the 2008 NHL entry draft. And right now, it’s not a matter of if he’ll be selected, but when.
“Personally, I don’t really feel much pressure because I am trying to focus on each game as it comes and hopefully the draft will take care of itself,” said Colborne.
The scouts have been raving about Colborne’s explosive speed coupled with his towering 6’5” frame, which in all likelihood has yet to be filled out. Colborne plays the center position with notoriously soft hands and natural offensive instincts, thus the 52 points in 29 games played this season with Camrose. When asked about which current NHL players he would compare his style of play to, Colborne chose three who any General Manager in the right mind would undoubtedly love to have on their team.
“I feel like I am a skilled forward, and I try to model my game after players like Lecavalier, Thornton and Spezza,” he said.
Colborne played his minor hockey in Springbank, Alberta, a community just outside of Calgary. He began playing organized hockey at the age of five, but Colborne says he can’t remember a day when he didn’t dream about playing in the National Hockey League. On top of his time with Camrose, Colborne has also had the privilege to represent Canada internationally, which he singles out as one of his top hockey memories.
“My fondest memory in hockey would either be the playoff run my team went on last year when we reached the Royal Bank Cup semifinal game and lost in the fifth overtime period, or winning the World Junior A Challenge in Trail BC earlier this year,” said Colborne, who had seven points in four games with Canada West in the tournament.
Colborne has been compared by many to Kyle Turris, who is currently representing Team Canada at the World Junior Championships overseas, because of their similar decisions to play in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League rather than the Tier I Canadian Hockey League. While the comparison is somewhat appropriate, a more suitable comparison might be to Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond, who also played for the Camrose Kodiaks.
“Mason has been a huge role model for me as I have been able to workout with him in Calgary over the past few summers and it has been great to watch someone who is doing exactly what I hope to do in my career,” explained Colborne.
Just as Turris, who currently plays for the Wisconsin Badgers, and Raymond, who is a Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs alumnus, both did after their respective stints in the CJAHL, Colborne is committed to play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association commencing in the 2008-09 season. However, Colborne is slated to don the crimson and gold of the University of Denver Pioneers. As he explains, Colborne chose Denver for a combination of reasons.
“Denver really stood out from the rest of the schools because of firstly its coaching, which is some of the best in the nation, second, the tradition of having a perennial chance at winning a national championship, as well as the top level of education that it offers,” he said.
The University of Denver Pioneers are currently tied with Colorado College for first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 22 points apiece.
It’s possible that Ebert and Roeper will never give Joe Colborne “two thumbs up” for his performance on the ice, however; I think he would settle for his name being called by any General Manager at the 2008 NHL entry draft. And right now, it’s not a matter of if he’ll be selected, but when.
2 comments:
LOL.
This Faran Devji cat absolutely just lifted his "article" from a Canadian hockey website Q&A with Colborne. I read it yesterday or the day before and can't find the link anymore.
I have to give DG credit because he properly links the original article and doesn't pretend like he'd interviewed the guy.
This Devji cat never actually says he interviewed Colborne but he sure parses his sentences to make it look that way. What a fraud.
The Canadian hockey website you are speaking of is http://www.canucksfanz.com, you can see the original interview here: http://www.canucksfanz.com/all-news/three-questions-with-joe-colborne-x2-3.html
I am affiliated with both Canucks Fanz and Inside Hockey and I did indeed conduct the interview with Joe Colborne.
I appreciate your concern in this matter.
Farhan
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